Sibling in Medical School

[morningstar99]

Hi everyone --

My sister applied to medical school 3 cycles ago, was pretty successful in admissions, and is now in her 3rd year. I am applying this cycle.

She and I are 2 years apart in age and are extremely close. We are very alike as people and have lived very similar lives (same upbringing obviously, same undergrad, same academic interests, same activities/experiences when we went to school together). Obviously, as I am younger, it would be a lie if I said my choices haven't been at least somewhat influenced by watching her, but I also feel very personally convicted in my decision to apply to medical school.

The issue is that I'm beginning to worry that our applications are too similar. I helped proofread and edit her primary and secondary applications 3 years ago, and now that I'm writing my own, I have this nagging feeling that it will seem as if I'm copying her. Because we've led very similar lives, a lot of our responses to some secondary questions follow similar lines. For example, when asked about a challenge I've overcome, my mind immediately goes to a life event that my sister and I both experienced. However, my sister already wrote about it for her secondary. Similarly, my first encounter with healthcare disparities -- something that inspired me to pursue medicine -- occurred during a volunteering experience we completed together that I know for a fact she wrote about multiple times in her secondaries.

My question is -- how concerned should I be about this? Should I try to change my own answers in an attempt to not mirror hers, or just answer the questions authentically? We are applying to a lot of the same schools -- will the admissions committee even remember if my sister applied? I'm also worried that I'm subconsciously, unintentionally copying her because I already primed my brain when I proofread her application, even though it was 3 years ago. What do I do?

Thanks for all your help!

edit: My sister also has better stats than me (MCAT higher by 2 points, GPA higher than 0.1)

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[Moko]

My sister applied to medical school 3 cycles ago, was pretty successful in admissions, and is now in her 3rd year. I am applying this cycle. ... The issue is that I'm beginning to worry that our applications are too similar. ... Because we've led very similar lives, a lot of our responses to some secondary questions follow similar lines. ... My question is -- how concerned should I be about this? Should I try to change my own answers in an attempt to not mirror hers, or just answer the questions authentically? We are applying to a lot of the same schools -- will the admissions committee even remember if my sister applied? What do I do?

My thoughts:

• I think you're overestimating how much adcom members remember from even the current cycle, let alone from 3 years ago (~2 decades in dog years cause I'm a dog! *woof*).
• Answer authentically in your own voice. It's fine that you have similar lived experiences, but your answers should not be verbatim as hers.
• Relax! There are many things to worry about during the application cycle. This should not be one of them.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Great advice above. Remember, the app you reference worked for your sister. I would not worry too much about commonality, just be yourself. Good luck and best wishes!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

If your sister is doing well to get to third year, that's a good sign for that school to consider you.

I don't think you both have identical experiences. You shouldn't if you are 2 years apart in age (are you?). Think
about experiences in the last 2 years when you had to face challenges in your own. (Adversities from your childhood may be similar.)

I advise candidates to have 3 or more different stories for each general secondary prompt and anticipate being asked on interview days.

I do notice if you always cite your sibling in your essays; it is a blessing to have someone like a sibling to share life experiences, but you have to stand on your own. I don't tend to compare to a past application.

 

[Goro]

OP, you are overthinking this big time.

When I see an app from a younger sibling of someone also in our school, I barely remember the person, if at all.

 

[morningstar99]

My thoughts:

• I think you're overestimating how much adcom members remember from even the current cycle, let alone from 3 years ago (~2 decades in dog years cause I'm a dog! *woof*).
• Answer authentically in your own voice. It's fine that you have similar lived experiences, but your answers should not be verbatim as hers.
• Relax! There are many things to worry about during the application cycle. This should not be one of them.

Thank you, Moko 🙂 I think you're absolutely right. I'm going to try to stop comparing myself to my sister, and just provide the best and most genuine answers I can. I definitely need to relax (this seems to be the one thing premed students can't do)!

I appreciate your insight and kind words! Thank you again.

 

[morningstar99]

OP, you are overthinking this big time.

When I see an app from a younger sibling of someone also in our school, I barely remember the person, if at all.

Ahhh thank you. Definitely was overthinking -- I was up late working on my secondaries and in my exhaustion and stress, worried myself into a spiral. Thanks for bringing me back to Earth!

 

[morningstar99]

If your sister is doing well to get to third year, that's a good sign for that school to consider you.

I don't think you both have identical experiences. You shouldn't if you are 2 years apart in age (are you?). Think
about experiences in the last 2 years when you had to face challenges in your own. (Adversities from your childhood may be similar.)

I advise candidates to have 3 or more different stories for each general secondary prompt and anticipate being asked on interview days.

I do notice if you always cite your sibling in your essays; it is a blessing to have someone like a sibling to share life experiences, but you have to stand on your own. I don't tend to compare to a past application.

Hi Mr.Smile,

You're right -- I think I overestimated the amount of overlapping content in my worry. I've steered away from even mentioning that my older sister is in medicine, as I don't want to give the impression that I am blindly following her or that I'm somehow hoping to receive brownie points.

Thank you for your advice, especially about keeping various answers in mind for interviews (It's a good reminder to not delete the dozens of rough drafts I have crowding my laptop). I really appreciate your help 🙂

 

[morningstar99]

Great advice above. Remember, the app you reference worked for your sister. I would not worry too much about commonality, just be yourself. Good luck and best wishes!

Thank you, Angus -- it's so easy to doubt yourself (especially on online premed forums). I appreciate your kindness beyond words 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi Mr.Smile,

You're right -- I think I overestimated the amount of overlapping content in my worry. I've steered away from even mentioning that my older sister is in medicine, as I don't want to give the impression that I am blindly following her or that I'm somehow hoping to receive brownie points.

Thank you for your advice, especially about keeping various answers in mind for interviews (It's a good reminder to not delete the dozens of rough drafts I have crowding my laptop). I really appreciate your help 🙂

No problem.

Also, I want to help you remember that you are likely applying to more than just one medical school. You don't want to give an impression to other schools that you just want to follow your sister and that you aren't interested in going to THEIR medical school.